Whistler Family Retreat

Living and working full-time in Hong Kong, the clients were seeking a Whistler home that could serve as both a personal getaway which would support their sons’ summer and winter activities and serve as a rental property when not in use. HIT QC was engaged to elevate the property through thoughtful design, precise execution, and a technically driven approach, reimagining an aging structure into a fully realized mountain residence.

The design vision carefully preserves the home’s authentic log-built character while elevating it through thoughtful, full-scale modernization. A comprehensive scope of work enhances comfort, performance, and livability—seamlessly blending rustic charm with refined, contemporary living.

Key upgrades include the integration of central air conditioning and the introduction of new gas fireplaces throughout the home. All bathrooms were fully reimagined and reconfigured into cohesive, spa-inspired spaces, including a main bathroom designed around a generous steam shower experience. The games room was transformed into a more purposeful, inviting space, and the main floor layout was strategically reworked to improve flow, functionality, and everyday ease.

The project presented significant technical challenges, beginning with the home’s log construction, which made integrating new ductwork, plumbing, and chimney systems highly complex. The existing in-floor radiant heating—embedded in a lightweight concrete topping—required carefully sequenced demolition to introduce new infrastructure without compromising performance. On the third floor, a five-inch structural slope from south to north necessitated substantial demolition and reframing to correct.

The home was fully repiped from outdated Poly-B to modern PEX, and previously unpermitted square footage—partially embedded into the mountainside—was successfully legalized through average grade calculations, adding 350 square feet of livable area and increasing overall value.

Materially, 6500 sq ft of logs throughout the home were stripped to bare wood and refinished in a custom chocolate-toned stain, replacing the typical orange hue and informing a cohesive interior palette. A matching stone for the primary fireplace was sourced from a closed quarry, while new mechanical systems—including a heat pump and high-efficiency combination boiler—were introduced to deliver improved comfort, efficiency, and long-term performance.

All in a 9-month timeline.